You could do a:
- Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a level 3 course
Family support worker
Family support workers help and advise families with long or short-term difficulties.
Average salary (a year)
£18,000 Starter
to£50,000 Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
36 to 38 a week
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home
How to become a family support worker
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- applying directly
College
Apprenticeship
You could complete a children, young people and families practitioner higher apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and college qualifications like A levels for a higher or a degree apprenticeship
More information
Volunteering and experience
Experience is essential when applying for training or jobs. You can get this through paid or voluntary work in:
- children's homes
- nurseries
- family refuge centres
- probation services
- family community centres
- mental health services
- youth projects
Direct application
Employers will expect you to have:
- experience in working with children, young people and their families
- a minimum of a level 3 qualification in childcare, social work, social care, counselling, youth work or education
More information
Further information
You can find out more about careers in family support from Skills for Care and Development.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
For many roles you may be expected to have a full, clean driving licence.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could be:
- working with people who have drug or alcohol addiction
- supporting a parent in hospital or prison
- supporting clients who are experiencing marital or financial difficulties
- supporting a child or parent with a disability
- being present at court sessions dealing with care orders for children
- working with social workers to assess a family's needs when a child returns home after being in care
- supporting people with language barriers who are struggling to access services
- developing a client’s parenting and home management skills
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client's home or in a court.
Career path and progression
With experience and qualifications you could focus on a particular area, like working with people with disabilities.
You could also progress to team leader (managing a group of support workers) or become an assistant manager of a family centre or refuge.
Experience in family support may help if you want to move into social work.
Training opportunities
Apprenticeships In England
Adult Care Apprentice Level 3
- Wage : £255.00 - £370.00 Weekly
- Location: Macclesfield SK11 6AU
Apprentice Healthcare Assistant
- Wage : £225.00 Weekly
- Location: Thetford IP26 4DR
Courses In England
Health and Social Care Diploma
- Provider: Chenderit School
- Start date: 01 September 2019
- Location: BANBURY
Health and Social Care Diploma
- Provider: North Oxfordshire Academy
- Start date: 02 September 2019
- Location: Banbury